Early Breakfast withAbongile Nzelenzele

Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan has said that Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa has been brave for speaking truth to power and that many people in the African National Congress (ANC) believe it could lose power in the 2019 elections.

Gordhan was doing an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday evening.

Political analyst, Professor Lesiba Teffo told The Midday Report's Stephen Grootes that Gordhan sounded like a typical politician during the interview when he failed to answer when asked if he still had faith in President Jacob Zuma.

Hanekom would have said, certainly not.

— Lesiba Teffo, Political analyst

Teffo says it is at these moments that leaders such as Gordhan may have their integrity questioned. He adds that Gordhan should stand up and be counted especially when it matters most.

If we are being wishy washy when the damage is done, by the time we raise our hands it may be too late. And some suspect that it might be too late for Ramaphosa now.

— Lesiba Teffo, Political analyst

Like Gordhan, two other ANC member have publicly spoken out about the party's current state of affairs.

On Thursday, former Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom said he doesn’t know yet if he will vote for the ANC in 2019 and that the ANC will definitely lose its majority.

Then, Gauteng Premier, David Makhura said it was unfortunate that the country had been captured by a few who benefit from it.

These are the people I consider patriots who say "I bear the consequences but I must speak out not only in defence of my party but in defence of my country". It's those who history will look at their graves and say here lie the bones of a man who, when it matters spoke, had the courage to speak out and help the country to get into a proper trajectory.

— Lesiba Teffo, Political analyst

Teffo goes on to say the ANC may find itself being a rural party that will only thrive on the ignorant majority.